Keep on going...

Life is not about doing what you want to do all the time. Life is about doing what pleases Allah. At times we may not want to pray, we may feel tired, lazy, and even feel as if life is against us. But, placing trust in Allah is the way forward. Put your life in the hands of Allah. Allah can guide us and grant us peace and contentment in our souls. It is easy to give up…yet the greatest of people would keep on going the tougher things got.

Serving your community

Many students of knowledge spend years studying Arabic grammar, hadith, fiqh, Qur'an and much more. For those of us who go through the journey we soon come to realise how vast the ocean is. But, here is some useful advice for anyone at any part of this journey...


Ultimately, what we do is to please Allah and to serve the people. We cannot lose vision of that fact that our time is our people's time. Be truthful to yourself at all times. To do this, from time to time we must be with those people who will help usto see things - the good and the bad in us. We also need to to be conscious of two environments. The inner (our heart) and the outer (the external environment). In fact, the 'ulama would clearly say that in order for a mufti to issue a fatwa he has to be from those who know the people. Likewise, when we serve our communities, we must know our people. And finally, whatever one spent years studying, the issues that need to be communicated to our community, translate it in a language that they understand. This is where we can synthesis what we know and relay the information in simple language for others to benefit from.

This advice was given my an imam who visited us. I thought it was a short yet comprehensive reminder. Let this reminder benefit us all - ameen ya rabb.

The upper [giving] hand is better than the lower [taking] hand

Assalamualaykum

Here is the next hadith, JazakiAllah Khair to the dear sister who helped.
InshaAllah we will keep this updated more.

In request for the grammatical analysis of the hadith, I've not got arabic on my current laptop, inshaAllah when I do I will update all the hadith that have it missing.

Ma'assalam

The upper [giving] hand is better than the lower [taking] hand. [Bukhari, Muslim]

When Allah gives a person wealth it is a test to see whether or not it is spent in the path of Allah. A common misconception is that giving wealth away will result in great loss, in reality the opposite will happen. Although his money seems to decrease in the dunya he will have a huge reward in the hereafter.

Allah SWT says in Surah Baqara, 'The likeness of those who spend their money for Allah's sake, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and Allah multiplies (increases the reward) for whom He wills, and Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower' (2: 261).

Allah SWT also says in Surah Baqara, ‘Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allah that decreases or increases and to Him you shall return’(2: 245).

Remember, a person may have billions of pounds and large mansions but if there is no barakah in his wealth he will never be happy with it!

InshaAllah ...

Assalmaualaykum wa rahmatuAllahi wa baraktuhu

I will inshaAllah be signficantly updating this blog, within the next few weeks inshaAllah, and be working on it through Ramadan.

I apologise and ask you to forgive me for not being able to update as of late.

Ma'assalam
Radiant

Hadith 14- Make a regular practice of the Miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator

Make a regular practice of the Miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator (i.e. Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the Miswaak)'.(BUKHARI)

Apologies for such a long delay in writing.

THE MISWAAK

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) laid great stress on the use of the Miswaak (a tree-twig used for cleansing the teeth). One of the Sunnats of Wudhu is to use a Miswaak. Wherever a Miswaak is available and is not used, the full beauty and complete Sawaab of the Wudhu is not realised. There are numerous benefits and advantages in using a Miswaak.

HISTORY OF THE MISWAAK

The Miswaak, a tree-twig, was in use for brushing and cleansing the teeth long before the advent of our Holy Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). In fact the records of our Nabi Muhummad's (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) Ahadith indicate that the Miswaak was the "Sunnah" or practice of all the Ambiyaa (Prophets of Allah)—Peace be upon them.

"Abu Ayyub (R) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

'Four things are amongst the practices of the Ambiyaa —circumcision, application of perfume, Miswaak and marriage'." (AHMAD AND TIRMIZI)

Several other Ahadith of our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) also mention the Miswaak to have been the practice of the Prophets (Upon Whom Be Peace). Thus, we can safely claim that the practice of using the Miswaak is as old as mankind itself since Mankind's origin on the planet was with the appearance of the first Nabi of Allah, viz. Adam (A.S.). Therefore, among the many advantages and benefits of using the Miswaak, one of the greatest benefits is the good-fortune of being associated with the Ambiyaa in this holy practice. On the other hand, those who neglect the use of the Miswaak invite upon themselves a great misfortune by being deprived of the tremendous amount of Sawaab (Reward) which this noble practice carries.

Allamah Ibn Ismail says:

"It surprises me how people could forgo such a great Sunnah, the significance of which many Ahadith of our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) explain. Remember that it is a great loss to neglect the Miswaak."

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MISWAAK IN ISLAM

Islam has accorded an elevated status to the Miswaak. Its importance has been stressed in many Ahadith of our Holy Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). The statements and examples of the Sahaba and the Ulama of Islam regarding this practice bear testimony in abundance of the significance of the Miswaak.

Ibn Umar (R) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

'Make a regular practice of the Miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator (i.e. Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the Miswaak)'." (BUKHARI)

It is clear from this Hadith that two types of benefits accrue from the use of the Miswaak. These could be categorised as follows:

(1) UKHRAWI or Benefits which relate to the Hereafter;

(2) DUNYAWI or Benefits which relate to this worldly life.

The Ukhrawi category comprises the various Sawaabs (Rewards) which the Servant of Allah will obtain in the Hereafter for using the Miswaak. The Dunyawi category comprises the immediate benefits or advantages accruing to the physical human body by the constant use of the Miswaak.

The prime motive of the true Believer in his use of the Miswaak is his desire to obtain the first category of Benefits, i.e. Ukhrawi, the obtainal of the second category being a necessary corollary. This is so, since the only factor which governs the motive and intention of the Believer in his Ibaadat (Worship) is the Pleasure of Allah, our Creator, Nourisher and Sustainer. Hadhrat Ali (R), the fourth Khalif of Islam said:

"Make the Miswaak (i.e. its use) incumbent upon you, and be constant in this practice because Allah's Pleasure is in it and it increases the Reward of Salat from ninety-nine times to four hundred times."

In fact, the importance of the Miswaak is such that at one stage our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was under the impression that Allah Ta'aala might decree the use of the Miswaak Fardh (compulsory) upon the Ummah (Islamic Nation).

Abu Umamah (R) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

'Use the Miswaak, for verily, it purifies the mouth, and it is a Pleasure for the Lord. Jib-ra-eel (A.S.) exhorted me so much to use the Miswaak that I feared that its use would be decreed obligatory upon me and upon my Ummah. If I did not fear imposing hardship on my Ummah I would have made its use obligatory upon my people. Verily, I use the Miswaak so much that I fear the front part of my mouth being peeled (by constant and abundant brushing with the Miswaak)'." (IBN MAJAH)

"Abu Hurairah (R) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'Was it not for my fear of imposing a difficulty on my Ummah I would have ordered that the Miswaak be used for every Salaat'." (BUKHARI)

Hadith:

Hadhrat Shah Waliullah (R) relates the following :"The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'I was commanded to use the Miswaak to such an extent that I thought the Miswaak would be made obligatory'." (AHMAD and TIBRANI)

Ibn Abbas (R) narrates the following Hadith:

"The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'I was commanded so much to use the Miswaak that I thought Wahi of the Qurtaan (Revelation) would be revealed, regarding it (i.e. its use)'." (ABU YA'LAA)

Although the use of the Miswaak was not made Fardh (compulsory) upon the Ummah, nevertheless its use was Fardh upon our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam). This is borne out by the following Hadith: "Aisha (R) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam): said:

'These (practices), viz., Miswaak, Witr Salaat and Tahajjud Salaat, are Sunnat for you and Fardh for me'."

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R) narrates:

"The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would use the Miswaak (regularly) prior to sleeping and after rising from sleep." (MUNTAKHAB)

Imam Ghazali (R), in his Ihya-ul-Uloom, has enum,erated ten Aadaab (Respects or duties) of sleep. The very first of these being purity and the use of the Miswaak (before sleeping).

Advantages of the Miswaak:

1. Miswaak strengthens the gums and prevents tooth decay.

2. Miswaak assists in eliminating toothaches and prevents further increase of decay which has already set in.

3. Miswaak creates a fragrance in the mouth.

4. Miswaak is a cure for illness.

5. Miswaak eliminates bad odors and improves the sense of taste.

6. Miswaak sharpens the memory.

7. Miswaak is a cure for headaches.

8. Miswaak creates lustre (noor) on the face of the one who continually uses it.

9. Miswaak causes the teeth to glow.

10. Miswaak strengthens the eyesight.

11. Miswaak assists in digestion.

12. Miswaak clears the voice.

13. The greatest benefit of using miswaak is gaining the pleasure of Allah.

14. The reward of Salaah (Prayers) is multiplied 70 times if Miswaak was used before it.

Read More: http://members.tripod.com/maseeh1/advices7/id52.htm